Los Angeles (CNN) -- A former Los Angeles cop who had allegedly warned he would target law enforcement in retribution for being fired is now suspected of shooting three officers early Thursday, killing one, authorities said.
The shootings -- which come a day after Irvine, California, police named Christopher Jordan Dorner as the suspect in a double slaying there Sunday -- sparked a huge manhunt in Southern California.
The California Highway Patrol issued an alert Thursday morning urging officers in several Southern California counties to be on the lookout for the onetime officer and Navy lieutenant.

Dorner, 33, is suspected of slightly wounding a Los Angeles police officer in Corona, California, early Thursday as the officer was exiting the freeway in that Riverside County town, according to Los Angeles police.

About an hour later, around 1:30 a.m., Riverside police say two of its officers were shot after being ambushed at an intersection, one of them fatally. Police learned of the shooting when a Good Samaritan picked up a police radio and made a distress call on behalf of the wounded officers, Riverside police said.
In addition to Thursday's shootings, Dorner is suspected of the February 3 deaths of Keith Lawrence and Monica Quan in Irvine, according to police there.
In a lengthy letter apparently written by Dorner and provided to CNN by an LAPD source, he allegedly threatened to use his Navy training to harm police officers involved in his case and their families.

"I will bring unconventional and asymmetrical warfare to those in LAPD uniform whether on or off duty," Dorner allegedly wrote in a lengthy letter promising retribution against the department, where he worked from 2005 until 2008.
The letter writer claimed he was terminated after he reported excessive force by a fellow officer, and said his attacks were retribution for his termination, as well as a culture of racism and violence he says continues within the department.
He called the attacks against police "a necessary evil that I do not enjoy but must partake and complete for substantial change to occur within the LAPD and reclaim my name."

In Riverside, police sealed off intersections in the downtown neighborhood where the two officers had been shot. Police, some of them in SWAT gear, carried assault rifles on their shoulders, their fingers on the trigger guards.
Los Angeles police warned people who encounter Dorner not to approach him, saying he is likely "armed and extremely dangerous."

"Our department is implementing all measures possible to ensure the safety of our LAPD personnel, their families and the Los Angeles community, and will continue to do so until Dorner is apprehended and all threats have been abated," police said in a statement.

Dorner is a former U.S. Navy Reserve lieutenant who worked with river warfare units and a mobile inshore undersea warfare unit, among other assignments, according to Pentagon records obtained by CNN. He also provided security on oil platforms in Iraq.

He was rated as a rifle marksman and pistol expert, according to the records.
His last day in the Navy was Feb. 1, according to the records.

Los Angeles and Torrance police were involved in two shootings in Torrance early Thursday when police came across vehicles similar to the one sought by authorities in a massive manhunt for an ex-LAPD officer suspected of shooting three other officers.

The first Torrance incident occurred about 5:20 a.m. in the 19500 block of Redbeam Avenue in Torrance, Chase said. That incident involved Los Angeles police detectives from the Hollywood division, sources said.

Two people were struck by gunfire and transported to an area hospital with unknown injuries, Chase said. No officers were injured.

The second incident, which involved Torrance police, occurred at Flagler Lane and Beryl Street about 5:45 a.m. No injuries were reported in that incident.

Chase said both incidents involved vehicles matching the description of the one sought in connection with Dorner.

"Now it appears neither of them are directly related," Chase said. "In both of them, officers believed they were at the time."

It was not immediately clear if occupants of the vehicles matched Dorner's description, Chase said.
A massive, multiagency manhunt was underway for Dorner after three police officers were shot -- one fatally -- in Riverside County early Thursday. The night before, authorities announced that Dorner was sought in connection with a double homicide in Orange County over the weekend.

Dorner posted an online manifesto in which he threatened to harm police officials and their families, authorities said, and he is considered "armed and extremely dangerous."

The first Thursday shooting occurred about 1:30 a.m. in Corona, where two Los Angeles Police Department officers were providing protection fora person mentioned in Dorner's s manifesto, officials said. One officer suffered a grazing head wound during a shootout and Dorner fled the scene, police said.

A short time later, two Riverside officers were involved in a shooting with a suspect at the corner of Magnolia Avenue and Arlington Avenue in Riverside. Riverside police Lt. Guy Toussaint said the officers were sitting at a red light when they were ambushed. One was killed, the other was still in surgery Thursday morning.

There was no indication those officers were "actively seeking Dorner," Toussaint said.

“Our officers were stopped at an intersection at a red light when they were ambushed," he said. "Because of the close proximity to the timeline, we believe there is a strong likelihood that former LAPD Officer Christopher Dorner was involved in our incident.”

Police had cordoned off several blocks surrounding the scene, and officers from several area agencies patrolled the street with shotguns at the ready. Traffic was snarled for the morning commute in both Riverside and Corona. Police said parents should use their own judgment in deciding whether to send their children to school.

The California Highway Patrol issued a "blue alert" for nine Southern California counties. Officials said Dorner is believed to be driving a 2005 blue or gray Nissan Titan, with California license plate 8D83987 or 7X09131.

Police said they believe he may be switching between the two license plates. Dorner is described as a black male, 33 years old, 6 feet tall, weighing 270 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. His last known address is in La Palma.

Members of the public were warned to stay away from him if they spot him, and to call 911 immediately.

Wow what a story. If what he says in his manifesto is true (and it sounds to me like it is) then he has a legitimate beef. I can't condone his actions, but I don't blame him either. He was swept under the rug and would have never gotten his side of the story out there.

Scholar

02-07-2013 02:56 PM

Re: Massive manhunt in L.A. For Christopher Dorner

This shooting in Corona, CA, happened less than a mile from where I was working last night. I heard sirens blaring and saw the helicopter flying overhead.

I can't say I agree with what he's done, but I do think he was wrongly terminated. Definitely a cover-up by police.

red1

02-07-2013 03:14 PM

Re: Massive manhunt in L.A. For Christopher Dorner

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skywalker

This will be a movie.

indeed

rufuspaul

02-07-2013 03:20 PM

Re: Massive manhunt in L.A. For Christopher Dorner

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skywalker

This will be a movie.

The fact that it's happening in LA means there are producers clambering to get a script as we speak.

dunksby

02-07-2013 03:22 PM

Re: Massive manhunt in L.A. For Christopher Dorner

Maybe I have watched too many movies but whenever a manhunt by the police is going on I suspect they are trying to put a lid on some mess of their own doing. If the guy is killing cops well you don't have to worry much :lol

OhNoTimNoSho

02-07-2013 03:25 PM

Re: Massive manhunt in L.A. For Christopher Dorner

I can see it now..

Christopher Dorner stars in summer blockbuster "LA MANHUNT". A desperate man left with no choice... not choice but to kill.